Corona infection in young patients: study reveals frightening late effects on the lungs
Created: 08/10/2022, 20:11
By: Tanja Kipke
A study from Erlangen tested the lung function in children and adolescents after a corona infection.
© IMAGO
A study by the University Hospital Erlangen is investigating the long-term consequences of a corona infection in children and adolescents.
The results are terrifying.
Erlangen – "Not everyone is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus without a trace," the clinic begins its statement on the study.
Children and adolescents who have recovered from a corona infection or who suffer from Long Covid show enormous changes in their lungs afterwards.
Scientists in Erlangen came to this conclusion.
Corona study with frightening results: lung dysfunction in children
The clinical study was carried out by the Children's and Adolescents' Clinic, the Social Paediatrics Center and the Radiological Institute of the Klinikum Erlangen.
It was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and Art.
"We designed this study in collaboration with the Radiological Institute when the evidence of long and post-Covid cases in adults increased," says PD Dr.
Ferdinand Knieling, specialist in paediatrics and youth medicine in the children's clinic of the University Hospital Erlangen.
"That was also the time when the first patients with unspecific symptoms came to our clinic and asked the parents about a connection with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection." Young people with Long Covid symptoms.
29 participants had already recovered from the corona infection, 25 suffer from Long Covid.
Pulmonary dysfunction was noted in both groups.
Study from Erlangen: Children and young people after corona lung damage
Using a special MRI, the researchers examined the function of the lungs of all test subjects.
It turned out that the air and blood flow in the lungs no longer worked properly in the participants.
"In the recovered group, the V/Q ratio was 62%, in the long covid group 60% - both times significantly lower than the 81% ratio in the healthy controls."
Means: The level of air and blood flow was significantly lower in all corona test subjects than in healthy children and adolescents.
The time since the corona infection had not mattered.
The lung function was always lower (less than 180 days, 180 to 360 days or more than 360 days).
Video: These are the Long Covid symptoms: 17 million Europeans affected
Study results justify monitoring of lung damage after Corona
According to the researchers, the study results justify further monitoring of the ongoing lung damage in children and adolescents after Corona.
Further research work is necessary, a follow-up study is already underway.
"We want to better understand how the results develop over time and in particular with regard to changing virus variants and what significance the described findings have for the long-term health of children and adolescents," explains PD Dr.
kneeling.
The researchers will then take a closer look at other organs.
(tkip)
By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis.
Sign up here.
